"Hi, Giles," Willow greeted the ex-Watcher tentatively as she reached his door. She had somehow managed to talk him into agreeing to a meeting to set things straight. Willow guessed that it was only because, thanks to the spell, he knew that she couldn't lie about being sorry. She made a very heartfelt plea to him to help her and, after much groveling on her part, he finally relented and even agreed to call the others. "Is everyone here yet?"

"You're the last one, Willow. They're inside." Giles tried to keep his tone even, but Willow could still tell that he was upset about the situation. Willow went ahead and silently stepped through the door and entered Giles' apartment, to be greeted by the sight of all her fiends sitting around the living room with vicious looks on their faces, but none of the looks were directed at Willow herself.

"Hi, guys." None of the others bothered to greet her, so she went on. "I'm sure Giles told you why I wanted to talk to you." Xander looked over from his spot on Giles' couch and glared at the redhead.

"I know you're going to say that you're sorry, Will, but I don't really care. I've had a majorly bad day and it's all because of you. My parents nearly kicked me out of the house this afternoon, Will. I don't think that qualifies for a simple I'm sorry, so excuse me if I get a bit testy." Willow visibly winced at the pain and hurt that was evident on Xander's face.

"Xander, I didn't mean for…"

"That just it, Will! You never mean for stuff like this to happen, but it does and we pay for it! How many times has Giles told you not to try magic by yourself? You always think that you can do it alone, and when you mess it up, well that's just too damn bad, isn't it?"

"Xander, it wasn't supposed to happen this way!"

"How was it supposed to happen, Will," Buffy asked from her seat on the stairs.

"The spell was meant for Riley only," Willow said quietly. Riley looked up from his seat in a chair and stared at the hacker.

"So it was just supposed to happen to me? That's perfect, Willow! Let soldier boy have a fun day, Liar, Liar style, huh?"

"I wanted to convince Buffy that what happened between you and Faith didn't mean anything. That you thought it was Buffy. I was trying to help you."

"And I need magic to prove that point? I couldn't have went to Buffy myself and tell her the truth? I had already started to do that in the first place by telling her what I had done. Doesn't that count for something?" The TA did little to hide his anger.

"I would have gotten over it eventually, Will," Buffy added.

"I was just so sick of seeing you moping, Buffy! I felt that I had to do something."

"I know you were trying to be my friend, Will, but this is not exactly the thing I had in mind for solving my problems." The Slayer looked over to her roommate and friend with as much compassion as she could muster. She knew Willow felt terribly guilty and that she only meant well, but it had still not been a fun-filled day for her.

"Can we say backfire," Anya grumbled from her seat on the far side of the couch, sitting as far as she could from Xander.

"I'd have to agree with Anya, Willow," Giles began. "I have warned you before about trying magics you're not familiar with, repeatedly, and against using them to meddle in the affairs of your friends. It was very unwise of you to try that spell." Giles was trying to sound levelheaded as he said that, but he was clearly upset.

"And you've never screwed up a day in your life, have you, Giles," Willow shot back coldly. "I'm trying to make it better and everyone's attacking me, even Giles," she thought angrily.

"I'm only saying that you should have been more careful, Willow. I would think that my own past magical mishaps would have taught you that."

"All you've taught me is that no one here trusts me to be able to do anything myself and that you always expect me to fail!"

"Willow, you know that's not true!"

"Yes it is, Giles! You treat me like some little kid who needs to be coddled and you can't stand to see me try anything on my own!" By the time Willow had finished this tirade, she was standing toe to toe with Giles and they were both furious. All the others could do is watch in abject silence as the argument progressed.

"Willow, there's no need for you to act like some spoiled child! You're an adult for God's sake! Act like one!" Giles was very upset, and the others did little to stop him at that point. "I swear I have never seen Willow act like this! It's bloody infuriating," Giles thought

"I'll start acting like an adult when you start treating me like one," Willow yelled. Both had completely lost their tempers by this point.

"Guys," Buffy called out from the stairs, trying to stop them. This was supposed to be a peaceful meeting, not some cat fight. "It's like Thanksgiving all over again, only it's not about Native Americans this time," Buffy thought.

"Willow, do stop acting like some childish bitch," Giles screamed. The Slayer was ready to call a truce. Apparently, Willow hadn't heard her friend, but she had certainly heard Giles' tirade. The hacker proceeded to take a cup of juice lying untouched on the table by her and angrily poured the liquid contents over Giles' head, dousing the ex-Watcher with a bright red stain.

"That's enough," Riley called out from his vantage-point as he stood up and placed himself between the two combatants. He had heard Buffy and had silently agreed with her. The argument had gone too far.

"I think it would be best if we all just go home and wait for the spell to wear off," Giles said coldly as he examined the now ruined Oxford he was wearing. "I have reached the end of my rope for one night." Xander glanced over to Giles and nodded his head in agreement.

"Yeah. I think G-Man is right. We'd better leave the apologizing for tomorrow." Xander promptly got up and left the room, not bothering to say good-bye to anyone, even Anya.

"Well, bye," the ex-demon exclaimed in a huff to the departing teen as soon as Xander was out the door. She looked to the others in still left in the room. "I've had enough of this nonsense. I'll see you guys later." Anya chose to leave then in a huff then, not looking back. Buffy herself then said a quick good-bye and fled back to the dorm, not wanting any more to do with it. Giles finally looked at Willow and Riley as he headed for the stairs.

"I'll see you two in the morning," he said wearily, continuing to glare at Willow as he stalked up the stairs. Riley quickly left the house, leaving Willow alone in the living room. She hastily gave her options some thought and walked over to the door, shutting it. She then made her way to the couch and sat down to wait for Giles to come back downstairs.

Part Two
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